Telehealth, but properly
Telehealth has gone from novelty to mainstream in Australia in just a few years. For many women, it's now the most practical way to see a doctor — no waiting room, no time off work, no commute, no awkward bumping-into-people-you-know in a small clinic. But because it's still relatively new in this format, plenty of people aren't sure what a telehealth consultation actually involves, what's appropriate to discuss, and how it differs from a traditional in-person appointment.
Here's what a properly run doctor-led telehealth consultation in Australia should look like in 2026.
Before the consultation: the assessment
A good telehealth service doesn't just throw you straight into a video call. The consultation usually starts with a structured online health assessment — a series of questions about your medical history, current medications, lifestyle, family history, and the specific concerns you'd like to discuss.
This serves two purposes. It gives the doctor a head start so the conversation can be substantive from minute one rather than spent on intake. And it flags any areas the doctor needs to focus on — for example, if you mention a medication that interacts with something relevant, or a family history that changes the clinical picture.
A thorough assessment typically takes 5–10 minutes to complete. If a service asks you nothing before the consultation, that's a yellow flag.
During the consultation: what good looks like
A genuine doctor-led consultation in Australia has several characteristics worth knowing.
It's conducted by an AHPRA-registered doctor. Every doctor practising in Australia must be registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). Their registration is publicly verifiable on the AHPRA register at ahpra.gov.au. A legitimate telehealth service will tell you the name and registration number of your doctor — and you should be able to look them up.
It happens by video, not just text. Some services try to substitute a quick questionnaire and a text exchange for an actual consultation. This is generally not acceptable for clinical decision-making. A proper consultation involves a doctor seeing and speaking with you, in real time, by video.
It takes enough time to be meaningful. A 3-minute consultation is not a consultation. Most genuine telehealth appointments run 15–30 minutes for a first visit, depending on complexity. The doctor needs time to ask questions, listen, examine what can be examined visually, and explain anything they're recommending.
The doctor listens before recommending. A red flag in any consultation — telehealth or in-person — is when the recommendation feels predetermined. A good doctor asks open questions, explores your history, considers alternatives, and explains their reasoning.
It includes informed discussion. If the doctor discusses any options with you, they should explain what those options involve, the evidence behind them, the potential benefits, the potential risks and side effects, and what alternatives exist — including doing nothing. You should leave the consultation understanding what's being suggested and why.
What telehealth is suitable for — and what it isn't
Telehealth works well for many things and less well for others. It's generally appropriate for:
- Initial consultations and clinical assessments
- Discussion of symptoms that don't require physical examination
- Review of test results
- Follow-up appointments and ongoing care
- Mental health discussions
- Lifestyle and preventive health conversations
- Many areas of women's health, weight management, and skin health
It's generally not appropriate for:
- Acute emergencies — call 000 or go to an emergency department
- Conditions requiring hands-on physical examination
- Procedures
- Anything involving acute, severe, or rapidly worsening symptoms
A responsible telehealth service will tell you when they're not the right option and direct you to in-person care.
What happens after the consultation
If the doctor recommends next steps, those should be communicated clearly — usually with a written summary of what was discussed and what was suggested. If pathology, imaging, or in-person follow-up is needed, the doctor should explain how to arrange that.
If anything is dispensed or arranged through the service, it should arrive in plain, unbranded packaging. Your privacy matters — your neighbour shouldn't be able to guess what's in the parcel sitting on your doorstep.
Ongoing follow-up should be available. A consultation isn't a one-off transaction; it's the start of a clinical relationship. You should know how to reach the doctor or their team with follow-up questions, side effects, or concerns.
Privacy and your health information
Health information is treated as "sensitive information" under Australia's Privacy Act 1988. A telehealth service must comply with the Australian Privacy Principles and should publish a clear privacy policy explaining what information is collected, how it's stored, who it's shared with, and how you can access or correct it.
You should never be asked to share more than is clinically necessary. And your information should never be used for marketing without explicit, separate consent.
What to look for in a telehealth provider
A short checklist:
- Doctors are AHPRA-registered and identifiable by name
- The service is based in Australia and complies with Australian regulations
- Consultations are conducted by video by qualified doctors
- A proper assessment is completed before the consultation
- The pricing is transparent and explained upfront
- A clear privacy policy and complaints process are published
- Follow-up care is part of the model, not an afterthought
- The doctor is willing to say "this isn't appropriate for telehealth" when relevant
How Zibby Health works
Zibby Health is an Australian telehealth service launching in mid 2026, designed around women and conducted entirely by AHPRA-registered Australian doctors. Every consultation begins with a structured private assessment, followed by a video appointment where your doctor takes the time to listen, ask questions, and walk through anything that's clinically appropriate for your situation. Treatment is never assumed and is always individually assessed.
If you'd like to be among the first 100 women to access an early-bird consultation when Zibby Health opens, you can reserve your spot here.
This article is general health information and is not medical advice. Telehealth suitability varies by individual circumstances. In a medical emergency, call 000.